2006-12-26 02:10:21 · 12 answers · asked by alex 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
"David Copperfield", by Charles Dickens, is considered by many to be a classic. It is a typical Dickens novel, and portrays the English society as it was at that time. Very realistic, many mistake it for a biography. It really is a Bildungs Roman, or story of growth and maturation of a character, and follows the life of David Copperfield. It illustrates many important characteristics of that time period, including the limited rights of women, the plight of the poor,unsanitary conditions, and the commonplace treatment of children that would be considered abuse nowadays. Dickens wrote to expose social problems that he saw in everyday life. David Copperfield is no different, essentially, from "Oliver Twist", or "Nicholas Nickleby". These same themes are prevelant through many of Dickens' novels. "David Copperfield" is well written, being simple and straightforward, and much of its popularity is due to its ability to evoke emotions without relying on pathos as the device to do so, which is unusual.
2006-12-26 05:57:29 · answer #1 · answered by Elizabeth D. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was semi autobiographical (the hero having the same initials as Charles Dickens, in reverse) and the author put a lot of himself into it: in the traumatic child-uexperience, the first romance, the aborted legal career, and the early efforts at writing. Indeed, as David matures in the course of the film, he grow to look ever more like historical photographs of Dickens.
The characters, too, are drawn from life. Mr. Micawber is based on Dickens's own father. Dora is his first flame. Even Uriah Heep resembles someone Dickens knew -- Danish poet Hans Christian Andersen, who had the same reptilian affect.
In 1869, the year before his death, Charles Dickens looked back on a lifetime of marvellous literary creations and singled out David Copperfield as his "favourite child." "Of all my books," he wrote, "I like this the best."
2006-12-26 06:38:07 · answer #2 · answered by Doethineb 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
David Copperfield was written by Dickens, but the question asks about a David Cooperfield. I don't think he's done anything amzing as he's not listed on anything spectacular.
2006-12-26 03:10:41 · answer #3 · answered by Rachael B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
David Copperfield is meant to be the nearest Dickens ever got to writing an autobiography. I love it, but if you don't like Dickens (and why should you ?) you'll find it boring, but the autobiographical element is the 'special' thing
2006-12-27 21:53:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not a lot! Had to read it in school. Too much minute description gets in the way of a passable story.
Put me off Dickens for life - but that's probably the aim of studying English Lit. at school. Didn't work with Shakespeare - still love his plays.
2006-12-26 03:15:59 · answer #5 · answered by cymry3jones 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it Copperfield.
However it's a fictional book written by the great British author, Charles Dickens, and not therefore, a Biography.
2006-12-26 02:22:13 · answer #6 · answered by efes_haze 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Books work on a personal level so the best thing to do is read and discover it for yourself. Someone could tell you all about the quality of writing, the well drawn characters and timeless story but it means zip unless you read it - you might like it or you might not.
2006-12-26 09:01:10 · answer #7 · answered by mickyrisk 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The book is special not only because it is a very good story, but it is thought to be autobiographical
2006-12-29 06:15:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is the quality of writing.
Charles Dickens was a master of transferring the reader to the dark world of Victorian Britain.
2006-12-26 02:21:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Few novelists have ever captured more poignantly the feeling of childhood, the brightness and magic and terror of the world as seen through the eyes of a child and colored by his dawning emotions
2006-12-27 20:45:59 · answer #10 · answered by naz 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋